Pubdate: Tue, 17 Mar 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Debra J. Saunders

MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL LOST IN SMOKE

Last year, Congress passed an amendment that barred the Department of 
Justice from using federal dollars to prosecute medical-marijuana 
dispensaries in states that have legalized them. Last week, three 
senators have proposed a measure to clean up the federal-state 
medical-marijuana mess once and for all.

Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; and Rand Paul, 
R-Ky., introduced their Carers (Compassionate Access, Research 
Expansion and Respect States) Act, which should draw support from the 
right and left. Why? First, it would reclassify marijuana from a 
Schedule I to a Schedule II drug, granting recognition that marijuana 
has legitimate medical uses, a sop to the left. Second, it would 
direct the federal government to stop prosecuting dispensers in 
states that have legalized marijuana for medical use - a states' 
rights emphasis that should draw GOP votes.

The measure also would allow cannabidiol imports to help patients 
with epilepsy and seizure disorders - the folks who need medical 
marijuana the most - and allow Veterans Affairs doctors to recommend 
medical marijuana. Booker sees his legislation as a matter of "common 
sense, fiscal prudence and compassion."

For decades, Congress wouldn't move on medical marijuana because D.C. 
pols thought of advocates as goof-offs who just want to get high. 
They didn't see the legitimate medical benefits. Then, two years ago, 
CNN physician-reporter Sanjay Gupta looked at the issue anew and 
found that cannabis could help children with life-threatening 
seizures. Medical marijuana has been used to treat people with 
epilepsy, Parkinson's, brain tumors and posttraumatic stress disorder 
without the serious side effects often associated with prescription drugs.

 From San Francisco, Carers looks like a political slam dunk. It has 
bipartisan support. Already 23 states have legalized medical 
marijuana, which puts momentum on the "yes" side. "It stands a good 
chance of moving because it's so bipartisan in nature," said Bill 
Piper, the Drug Policy Alliance's man in Washington, D.C. But: "The 
hard part is going to be getting it through committee." Senate 
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, opposes the bill.

Will Grassley allow the bill to come to a vote? "The committee is 
unlikely to take up a bill in the near future that remakes these laws 
so broadly," spokeswoman Jill Gerber answered. She added that 
Grassley "is looking at ways to lift any unnecessary barriers" to 
scientific research into marijuana-based medicines to treat epilepsy 
and other conditions affecting children.

There are 11 GOP and nine Democratic senators on the committee. I see 
three R's who could vote yes - Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas 
support states' rights, and Jeff Flake of Arizona voted for similar 
legislation in the House. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there are more.

That would put Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the middle. Other committee 
Dems are very likely to vote yes. On the one hand, Feinstein and 
Grassley often work closely on drug-war issues. On the other hand, 
Feinstein does represent California. Her office told me DiFi is still 
reviewing the legislation.

Which leads to my final question: Would President Obama sign Carers? 
Advocates believe the White House could have and should have made 
marijuana a Schedule II drug years ago, but didn't. The 
administration has been behind the curve.

"Everyone pretty much believes that" Obama is not really for current 
federal marijuana laws, said Marijuana Majority Chairman Tom Angell, 
just as many believed Obama supported same-sex marriage back when he 
said he was against it.

"I wouldn't be shocked to see him evolve on this issue the same way 
he did for marriage equality," Angell mused. "Maybe all we need is 
for Joe Biden to say that marijuana should be legal."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom